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10TuesdayMay72013OddSquadtalksdrugsgangswithNorthernyouthHealthWellnessDrugsByRENEFRANCOEURTheoverallmessagefromOddSquadProductionstostudentsatDiamondJennesshighschoolinHayRiverandPaulW.KaeserhighschoolinFortSmithwascrystalclearalifeofdrugsandgangsisadead-endroad.OddSquada16year-oldcharityoutofVancouvercomposedofpoliceofcersandvolunteersaimstoed-ucateandmotivateyouthtomakedrugandcrime-freechoicesforhealthyfutures.Sgt.MarkSteinkampfSgt.TobyHintonandCst.DougSpenceroftheVancouverpolicetalkedaboutthedev-astatingeffectsofhigh-riskbehaviourlastweektoGrades7-12studentspresentingagraphicvideofeaturingreal-lifeaccountsfromdrugaddictsandgangmembersmanywhomhavesincebeengunneddownoroverdosed.Youmaybewonderingwhythesepeopleletusvid-eotapethemorusetheirpho-tosSteinkampfsaidtothecrowdofsilentyouthinFortSmith.Theytoldusitsbe-causetheydontwantanyoneelsetoenduplikethem.ThevideoshowedgrimsnapshotsofVancouversDowntownEastsideanareaknownforitscriminalactiv-ityandoverwhelmingpov-ertywheretheofcersspendmostoftheirworkhours.Onesubjectdescribedhowherheroinaddictionledtodeformitiesinherarmsbecauseshewouldpickholesinherskinthink-ingtherewerebugsunderheresh.Anothertearilytoldaudi-enceshowdrugsrobbedherofeverything...friendsfam-ilynishingschoolandthatshefeelshopelesswithoutafuture.Yetanotherclipfeaturesaninterviewwithagangmemberwhosaidhedoesntknowwherehewillbeinveyears-probablydead.Hewasgunneddownbyarivalgangmemberjustweeksaftertheinterview.EverycommunityhasdrugsHintonsaid.Theyoungerapersonengagesindrugusethequickerthebrainrewirestoaddiction.Themoreinformationyouhavethelessinclinedyoullbetomakebaddecisions.Hintonnotedthatwhilegangsarenotapressingcon-cerninthesmallercommu-nitiesoftheNWTNorthernyouthcaneasilybedrawnintothefast-pacedlife-styleofdrugsandmoneywhentheyleaveforschoolorotherventuresthattakethemintolargerurbanareasinthesouth.UntilweeducatethemkidsarenaiveandtheydontknowwhattheyregettingintoHintonsaid.Ourmes-sageistogivethemthetoolstohavehealthylifestylesandtomakegooddecisionstotakecareofthemselvesanddealwithtraumaintheirlivesnotbymaskingitwithdrugsbutbytalkingaboutit.DanielWiltzen14ofFortSmithsaidthepresentationwasahugeeye-opener.Thatsrealliferighttherewhattheywereshowingus.Idonteverwanttogetintoanythinglikethat.Thatsjustcrazyhesaid.JonLabine14addedtheOddSquadgaveaveryfor-wardandinterestinglecture.Itwassadthosewererealpeopleinthephotos.TheOddSquadalsopre-sentedtoparentsandtheFortSmithcommunityatlargelastThursdayeveningatUncleGabesFriendshipCentre.Theorganizationwaspre-viouslyintheNorthin2012bringingitsmessagetoInu-vikandAklavik.TheOddSquadtraveledtoHayRiverandFortSmiththisyearafterbeingapproachedbyCst.KyleHammondofHayRiversRCMPdetachment.HammondhadwatchedtheNationalFilmBoardofCan-adas1999policedocumen-taryThroughaBlueLensasahighschoolstudentinBC.ThelmfeaturedfootageshotbytheOddSquad.ThelmhadanimpactonhimSpencersaid.Hesayoungconstablehewantstomakeadifferencewiththekidshesworkingwithsohecalledusupandhereweare.OddSquadhasconductedover15000presentationsreachingmorethan38000kidsdirectly.PhotoReneFrancoeurLefttorightCst.DougSpencerSgt.TobyHintonandSgt.MarkSteinkampfoftheVancouverpolicegiveHayRiverandFortSmithyouththerealdirtondrugsandgangviolence.